SCAI Issues First Report on Transradial Access

May 4, 2011—The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) announced that a report on transradial access was presented at the SCAI 2011 scientific sessions in Baltimore, Maryland, and was published in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions. The report reviews topics including patient selection and preparation, arterial access, catheter and therapy selection, primary percutaneous coronary intervention, potential complications, and training for interventional cardiologists performing procedures via radial access.

SCAI stated that the report recommends training that is focused on three levels of competency based on the individual interventional cardiologist's level of experience with simple and complex cases, including patients with challenging anatomy. The report emphasizes that interventional cardiology trainees should develop equal competency in both femoral and radial approaches, and guidelines should be developed to address best practices for safe use of the radial technique.

The SCAI Transradial Working Group has developed a series of regional educational programs for training interventional cardiologists in the use of radial access. SCAI noted that the demand for these programs has been high, and it plans to offer at least four programs nationwide in 2011.

According to SCAI, as angiography, angioplasty, and stenting procedures are increasingly performed via radial access, it will be imperative to develop training and competency guidelines. Although radial access is commonly used around the world, it is relatively unused in the United States. As of 2009, only 4.5% of coronary procedures in the United States have been performed transradially. The technique is more common in Europe and Asia/Australia, where 30% and 40% of procedures are performed via radial access, respectively.

“Data increasingly show that the radial technique, which many patients find more comfortable, is also safe and effective,” commented Ronald P. Caputo, MD. “As this technique is used more frequently in the United States, we want to ensure it is used safely and appropriately.”

SCAI stated that recent research, including the RIVAL trial, has shown that radial access is a safe and effective technique, can increase survival for heart attack patients, and is often preferred by patients over femoral access. Data from the RIVAL trial was presented at the 2011 American College of Cardiology annual scientific sessions and published in The Lancet (2011;377:1409–1420). However, published guidelines for the procedure and training are not yet available.

News coverage of the RIVAL data was reported on April 4 in Cardiac Interventions Today. Furthermore, radial access is the focus of the March/April issue of Cardiac Interventions Today.